What are the responsibilities and job description for the Buying and Development Associate position at Farmhouse Pottery?
Location: Woodstock, VT
Department: Product
Type: Full-Time
About Us:
At Farmhouse Pottery, we are committed to traditional craft and techniques, rooted in simple, intentional designs for your home. We aspire to bring timeless and functional home goods to our customers, enhancing their living spaces with quality and style.
Job Summary:
We are seeking a creative and detail-oriented product professional to join our team. The successful candidate will have experience monitoring and managing inventory levels, developing relationships with vendors, and placing purchase orders while optimizing for cost and inventory efficiency. This role will also assist in the development and purchase of new products, ensuring they align with our brand's aesthetic and quality standards. This role requires a passion for home goods, a keen eye for trends, and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Core purchasing
- Quality Control
- Support in new product development
Core Purchasing:
- Utilize inventory management system to monitor inventory levels for core products
- Communicate with vendors on purchasing and availability
- Manage purchase orders to ensure timely delivery of items requested
- Manage lead times and input appropriately into software
- Manage incoming shipments of new items via NetSuite
- Negotiate pricing with vendors and keep all costing information up to date in NetSuite
- Forecast future buys based on seasonal demand, turnover rates and budget
Quality Control:
- Work with receiving team to develop QC systems/protocol
- Spot check incoming deliveries to identify quality issue before goods are shipped to customers
- Communicate product issues with vendors and negotiate a fix along with mitigation controls for the future
Support in New Product Development:
- Work with product development team to source samples, components, and finished goods
- Maintain relationship with our key manufacturing partners
- Update in-process development sheet with sample ETAs, notes, costs, etc.
- Build product in NetSuite along with Product Development Manager
- Put together training materials and support product training for relevant department managers
- Purchase new product, track shipment arrival, and communicate timelines with the e-commerce and marketing team.
- Experience in NetSuite or similar ERP system a plus
- Two years minimum buying experience in home goods industry
- Strong communication and negotiation skills
- Strong analytical and organizational skills with attention to detail
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office/Google Suite
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment
- Willingness to travel
- Passionate and knowledgeable about the product and home goods market
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Eight weeks paid parental leave
- Eight company paid holidays
- Three weeks paid time off
- 401(k) with 4% company match
- Opportunity to make your own pottery, plus product discounts
